RIPK4 promotes oxidative stress and ferroptotic death through the downregulation of ACSM1

One of the most critical axes for cell fate determination is how cells respond to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS)-oxidative stress. Extensive lipid peroxidation commits cells to death via a distinct cell death paradigm termed ferroptosis. However, the molecular mechanism regulating cellular fates to distinct ROS remains incompletely understood. Through siRNA against human receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPK) family members, we discovered that RIPK4 is crucial for oxidative stress and ferroptotic death. Upon ROS induction, RIPK4 is rapidly activated and the kinase activity of RIPK4 is indispensable to induce cell death. Specific ablation of RIPK4 in kidney proximal tubules protects mice from acute kidney injury induced by cisplatin and renal ischemia/reperfusion. RNA sequencing revealed the dramatically decreased expression of acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain (ACSM) family members induced by cisplatin treatment which is compromised in RIPK4 deficient mice. Among these ACSM family members, suppression of ACSM1 strongly augments oxidative stress and ferroptotic cell death with induced expression of ACSL4, an important component for ferroptosis execution. Our lipidome analysis revealed that over-expression of ACSM1 leads to the accumulation of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), attenuation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) production, and thereby cellular resistance to ferroptosis. Hence, knock-down ACSM1 re-sensitizes RIPK4 KO cells to oxidative stress and ferroptotic death. In conclusion, RIPK4 is a key player involved in oxidative stress and ferroptotic death, which is potentially important for a broad spectrum of human pathologies. The link between RIPK4-ASCM1 axis to PUFAs and ferroptosis reveals a novel mechanism to oxidative stress induced necrosis and ferroptosis.